this for well over a decade. north korea is not threatening to strike the u.s., but remember, north korea is a nuclear-armed country, unstable, secretive. and this is a significant step closer to being able to put a nuclear weapon on a long-range missile. >> the news was announced overnight, with great fanfare on north korean tv. an excited broadcaster calling the rocket launch a glorious success. this morning, america's aerospace defense command, norad, confirms it was a long-range galaxy 3 rocket, like this one. the most powerful the nation has ever launched. and a major step in its weapons program. >> what the north koreans have done with this launch is demonstrate the technological capability to launch an intercontinental ballistic missile, a long way. potentially threatening the west coast of the united states. >> reporter: the three-stage rocket was able to launch an object into low-level orbit. the north koreans say it was a satellite. but the u.s. believes it was merely testing the capability to carry a warhead. until now, north korea has attempted but failed four launches. abc's
